Growing up in Sweden, my dad and mom at all times inspired me to get outdoors as a lot as doable — rain, snow or shine. This was largely pushed by “friluftsliv,” a Scandinavian phrase that roughly interprets to “open-air life.”
The 164-year-old idea of Friluftsliv is all about embracing nature, and it’s a huge a part of Swedish tradition. When my youngsters had been younger, I might allow them to climb rocks and bushes, examine slimy critters, dig holes and play with out grownup intervention, similar to I did.
I presently reside in Sweden, however again once I lived within the U.S., I am unable to let you know what number of unusual seems I received when folks discovered my women fortunately napped on our again porch most days, in all seasons, or how usually they performed outdoors barefoot.
As the creator of “The Open-Air Life” and “There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather,” I’ve discovered that friluftsliv is not only a approach to instill wholesome habits in kids at a younger age — it is also a significant purpose why the Nordic nations are normally ranked amongst the world’s happiest.
Here’s my greatest recommendation for incorporating friluftsliv into your parenting model:
1. Schedule out of doors time.
Morning and night walks are sacred in Swedish tradition. Weather allowing, dinner is commonly loved outdoors on the porch, as households socialize round an open hearth, grilling scorching canine. Â
In Nordic nations, it is also frequent to see out of doors kindergartens, or forest colleges, the place kids spend the overwhelming majority of the time in nature.
The trick to creating a sustainable nature behavior is to create a rhythm that permits you to go outdoors frequently, even when it is only for slightly bit. It may even assist to schedule it within the household calendar.
If you are pressed for time, strive combining out of doors time with an already established behavior. For instance, stroll your youngster to daycare or preschool as an alternative of taking the automotive, or eat a picnic dinner at a park as an alternative of at dwelling.
2. Start with the place you might be.
The golden rule of friluftsliv is to use what you’ve got and do what you’ll be able to with out additional effort. Nature is throughout us, and even in additional city environments there are nonetheless birds to watch, flowers to scent and bushes to hug.
If you’ve got the chance to take your kids mountain climbing within the distant wilderness or a nationwide park, that is great — however the connections that you simply and your kids make with nature on a day-to-day foundation can have a higher impression on them.
Nine instances out of 10, once I take pleasure in friluftsliv with my youngsters, it’s by strolling across the woods close to our dwelling in Sweden.
3. Don’t let the climate smash your day.
Children aren’t born with a climate bias, however they will rapidly decide up on adults’ unfavourable attitudes towards rain, wind, chilly and warmth.Â
The friluftsliv custom encourages us to discover one thing to love about each season. In Nordic nations, dad and mom usually use the previous saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” It motivates kids to go outdoors every single day, whatever the climate.Â
Of course, when the climate is outright hazardous, it’s possible you’ll be higher off inside. But for probably the most half, we’ve a lot to achieve by dressing kids for the climate and letting them expertise the enjoyment of operating by the pouring rain, sliding over icy puddles, and cooling off within the water sprinkler on a scorching day.   Â
Linda Akeson McGurk is a Swedish-American author and creator of “The Open Air Life” and “There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather.” She is a passionate advocate for the Nordic out of doors custom of friluftsliv, and runs the weblog Rain or Shine Mamma. When she is not working, you’ll be able to normally discover her strolling across the pine forests close to her dwelling in southwestern Sweden. Follow Linda on Facebook and Instagram.
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